Get to Know the Maestro

The Dedication and Passion of Diane Wittry

by Megan Miller, Photography by Hub Willson

April 20, 2012

11:39 AM

If you’ve ever had the privilege of watching a concert conducted by Diane Wittry, then you already know of her impressive musical talent. Known nationally and internationally for her excellence in conducting, composing and arranging moving orchestral performances, it’s Wittry’s dedication and passion for music that earns her the title of “maestro” at Allentown Symphony Hall.

Wittry, the Symphony’s music director and conductor, has a reputation for inventive programming selection, often combining visual elements to her performances to deliver a special experience for concert-goers. She’s a master at creating an enjoyable performance on both sides of the stage through her ability to relate to her musicians (Wittry is an accomplished violinist) and to audience members, breathing new life into seasoned classical masterpieces.

Wittry graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in violin performance and a master’s degree in instrumental conducting. Her long career has included conducting in New York, Washington, DC, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Canada, Slovakia, Japan, Russia and Bosnia.

Her leadership has garnered her such esteemed positions as a National Conducting Mentor through the League of American Orchestras, music panelist for the National Endowment for the Humanities and faculty member for the League’s Leadership Academy. It’s also earned her numerous awards including the American Symphony Orchestra League’s Helen M. Thompson Award for outstanding artistic leadership of a regional orchestra, the Arts Ovation Award and the Woman of Distinction Award from Allentown. Wittry is also the third American to receive the Fiorino Doro Ward Award from the City of Vinci, Italy, which recognized her leadership in the arts and humanities.

In keeping with her commitment to teaching and mentoring, Wittry collected her years of experience with orchestras in her 2007 book Beyond the Baton: What Every Conductor Needs to Know. This comprehensive guide for conductors covers every facet of the profession and earned Wittry a Pulitzer Prize nomination. Keep an eye out for the much anticipated follow up book focused on the intricacies of conductor hand gestures and movements. In addition to her spot at the helm of the Orchestra, Wittry also makes time to nurture the next generation of classical musicians through her work with El Sistema Lehigh Valley. Don’t miss your chance to see Wittry do what she does best; check out allentownsymphony.org for upcoming concert dates.

1 of 16